AZERI LEADER DISMISSES TALK OF REFERENDUM IN BREAKAWAY KARABAKH

AzTV Baku
August 5 2008
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani president has dismissed as "speculation" any
suggestions that his government has agreed to hold a referendum in
Nagornyy Karabakh to determine the rebel region’s future status.

At a cabinet meeting on 5 August, broadcast by state television,
Ilham Aliyev said there was no document on the negotiating table on
holding a referendum in Nagornyy Karabakh.

"These are speculations… by some international sides," Aliyev said in
a clear reference to Matthew Bryza, the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group, which has been tasked with mediating a peaceful resolution of
the conflict.

The Russian news agency Interfax on 1 August had quoted Bryza as saying
that the people of Nagornyy Karabakh would decide themselves whether
the region should remain part of Azerbaijan or become independent.

Aliyev said that he would never agree to Nagornyy Karabakh’s separation
from Azerbaijan.

"This conflict must be resolved on the basis of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. No option is being discussed beyond that,"
he was shown telling the meeting. "Azerbaijan will not back down from
its principled position even one iota."

Aliyev warned that such speculation might aggravate the situation in
the region.

Nagornyy Karabakh broke from central government control following
a separatist war in the early 1990s. The region, along with seven
adjacent districts of Azerbaijan, has been controlled by Armenian
forces since a cease-fire was reached in 1994.